Statement

Democratic Governance and Citizen Participation in Latin America

25 – 26 February, 2016, San José, Costa Rica

The following document is an outcome of a summit of Ibero-American political leaders and experts organized by the Forum 2000 Foundation and Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress which was held in San José, Costa Rica on the February 25 – 26, 2016.
Participation in this meeting included former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias Sánchez, former President of the Spanish Government Felipe González, former President of Bolivia Jorge Quiroga Ramírez, prominent Mexican politician and diplomat Jorge G. Castañeda, former Governor of Puerto Rico Sila M. Calderón and former Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic of Chile John Biehl del Río.
The discussion focused on the shortcomings of democratic systems in Latin America in general, concentrating especially on those of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. The main deficiencies, threats and challenges inherent to these systems were identified as well as ideas and suggestions to strengthen democracies in the region and to initiate transitions to democracy which were for too long postponed.

SHORTCOMINGS AND CHALLENGES

The lack of democratic values of the leaders of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela and their disregard of civil liberties and human rights in general impede the development of their societies and the full self-actualization of their countrymen.

The anti-democratic nature and totalitarian tendencies of some governments in the region, most prominently those of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, are undeniable and can no longer be ignored by the democratic governments of Latin America and the world.

Democratic transitions are threatened by serious institutional and political obstacles as is evidenced in Venezuela where the Presidency of the Republic and the Supreme Court of Justice fail to recognize the unquestionable legitimacy of the new National Assembly elected on the 6th of December last year.

Human rights and democratic institutions, both national and regional, are weak and often have been appropriated by non-democratic forces as is the case in the three above mentioned countries as well as Bolivia and Ecuador.

In some countries, the frailty and division within the political opposition and civil society make them unable to fulfill their role in the democratic system. It should be noted that Venezuela constitutes an exception.

International institutions often fail to adequately and timely fulfill their role as promoters and protectors of human rights as well as their commitment to strengthen democratic governance.

The almost complete absence of denunciation concerning the ongoing undermining of democratic values and institutions in the five countries of ALBA is a cause for deep concern. We call the attention of the democratic governments in the region to their obligation to protect democracy by complying with and enforcing the international agreements that they have signed and ratified especially in the framework of the Organization of American States and of the United Nations.

Investments and the provision of foreign loans when they are granted with political motivations remain a risk to the sovereignty and democratic governance of the countries in the region.

IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS

Regional solidarity in defense of democratic values and institutions, including governments as well as civil societies, is of paramount importance for the protection and strengthening of democratic governance.

Venezuela is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe, and the severe lack of food and medicine that the country suffers from requires urgent, determined and effective action from the entire Venezuelan State and the international community. The joint effort to solve this serious crisis has been prevented by the obstruction of democratic governance arising from the ignorance of the new National Assembly’s legitimacy by the government of Venezuela. It has become urgent that the hemispheric community condemn in unequivocal terms this irresponsible attitude of the government of President Maduro, and persuade them to allow international solidarity with the people of Venezuela to help prevent the coming humanitarian catastrophe.

In all three countries it is necessary to reverse authoritarianism by ensuring the independence of public authorities and by relegitimizing and strengthening national democratic institutions where they still exist. Only in this way will it be possible to restore the checks and balances system which is indispensable for democratic governance.

There is no democracy with political prisoners. It is imperative that they are all released and to that end, the democratic governments of the region should show solidarity actively and effectively with their just cause.

It is a cause for optimism that, despite the lack of clarity and usual fraudulent practices, the democratic opposition from Argentina, Venezuela and Bolivia have recently achieved brilliant electoral victories. This does not diminish the importance of having credible international observation, such as that offered by the OAS, the United Nations and the European Union in every election.

The governments of the region should responsibly consider their external economic commitments especially when these could imply severe limitations to their future sovereign and democratic development.